Ancestry of Charles Henry Nye of Hyannis, MA

CHARLES HENRY NYE of Hyannis, Barnstable Co., Mass., now living retired, is a direct descendant of Benjamin Nye, of Sandwich, Mass., the first of the line in this country, and is related to several of the old families of this region.

In 1611 the arms of this family were granted and confirmed to Sir Edward Nye, of the Inner Temple, London, a descendant of an ancient family of Norfolk.

Francis Nye of Lynn, MA

Benjamin Nye, born May 4, 1620, at Bidlenden, Kent, England, came to this country and to Lynn, Mass., in the ship “Abigail,” with Edmund Freeman’s company, 1635. Mr. Nye’s lineage is traced back to Randolf Nye, who settled in Sussex, England, in 1527, through William Ralph, Thomas and Thomas (2). Benjamin Nye was married Oct. 19, 1640, in Sandwich, Mass., to Katherine, daughter of Thomas Tupper, who, too, was a passenger in the “Abigail,” and who in 1637 settled in Sandwich. In 1654 Benjamin Nye’s name appears on a list of those contributing toward building a mill; in 1655 his name is on the subscription list for building a meetinghouse; in that same year (1655) he was supervisor of highways; in 1657 he engaged to pay fifteen shillings yearly toward the minister’s salary; was chosen constable in 1661, etc. He seems to have built a mill at the little pond and therefor the town in 1669 voted him twelve acres of land. He was granted permission in 1675 to build a fulling mill on Spring River. These with other references to him in important connection and relation to public business evidence the kind of man he was. The children of Benjamin and Katherine were:

1. Mary Nye
2. John Nye
3. Ebenezer Nye
4. Jonathan Nye
5. Mercy Nye
6. Caleb Nye
7. Nathan Nye
8. Benjamin Nye

A Benjamin Nye was killed at the battle of Rehoboth, during King Philip’s war, March 26, 1676.

Ebenezer and John Nye, sons of Benjamin, bought of Elizabeth Ellis a tract of land in North Falmouth; she conveyed it by deed from the Colonial government, countersigned by Governor Bradford. In 1655-56 Ebenezer Nye located in the Wickertree field at North Falmouth (now called Mahaganaset). John Nye located at the head of the Salt Marsh, known as “Down the Lane.”

John Nye of North Falmouth, MA

John Nye, son of Benjamin, took the oath of fidelity in 1678, and served on the grand jury that same year. He and his brother Ebenezer bought 100 acres of land in Falmouth, and in 1689 they were granted 200 acres more. He was one of a committee in 1694 appointed to erect two cottages on the plain convenient for the shepherds to dwell in. He and William Bassett were appointed a committee Sept. 19, 1695, to provide a suitable person to keep school, the remuneration to be ten pounds. He married Esther Shedd. He died in 1722, and both left wills. Their children were:

1. Benjamin Nye, born Nov. 24, 1673
2. John Nye, Nov. 22, 1675
3. Abigail Nye, April 18, 1678 (married Edward Dillingham)
4. Experience Nye, Dec. 16, 1682 (married Josiah Swift)
5. Hannah Nye, Jan. 19, 1685 (married Isaac Jennings)
6. Ebenezer Nye, Sept. 23, 1687
7. Peleg Nye, Nov. 12, 1689
8. Nathan Nye
9. Joseph Nye, 1694
10. Cornelius Nye, 1697

Benjamin Nye of North Falmouth, MA

Benjamin Nye, born Nov. 24; 1673, son of John, had children:

1. John Nye
2. Iram Nye
3. Samuel Nye
4. Ebenezer Nye

Samuel Nye of North Falmouth, MA

Samuel Nye, son of Benjamin, had eight sons:

1. Stephen Nye
2. Timothy Nye
3. Alden Nye
4. Alvin Nye
5. Francis Nye
6. Paul Nye
7. James Nye
8. Samuel Nye

Francis Nye of North Falmouth, MA

Francis Nye, son of Samuel, was commissioned major in the 1st Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry in 1828; his commission is now in the possession of his grandson, Charles Henry Nye. He married Abigail Toby and they had three sons:

1. Charles H. Nye
2. Francis A. Nye, of North Falmouth, Mass., who still survives at the advanced age of eighty-seven
3. Benjamin Nye, who died in North Falmouth, Massachusetts

Charles Henry Nye of Hyannis, MA

Charles Henry Nye, son of Francis, was born Dec. 8, 1821, in North Falmouth, Mass., and received his education in Falmouth. He began work as a clerk, and in 1837 went to Boston as a tailor’s apprentice. However, he did not continue thus long as he contracted smallpox. Later he became a clerk at a foundry for Howard Perry, at Pocasset, coming to Hyannis in 1857. Becoming interested in the Cape Cod railroad and its possibilities, he was one of its active promoters and after the consolidation with the Old Colony railroad he was superintendent, holding that position for a number of years. He resigned in 1891 and on that occasion the employees of the road presented him a silver tea set and water pitcher, besides other tokens of respect and admiration. He was quite prominent in public life, having been representative in the State Legislature from Sandwich one term, and from Hyannis in 1892-93. Fraternally he belonged to the Masons, holding membership in Fraternal Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the chapter at Hyannis, and he was a member of the Congregational Church. He died July 9, 1907, and was buried in the family lot at North Falmouth.

On Jan. 11, 1848, Mr. Nye married Lucy Swift Green, of Pocasset, and they had three children:

1. Charles Henry Nye, Jr., born Sept. 14, 1852
2. William Green Nye, born Jan. 14, 1860, who died Oct. 15, 1860
3. Chester Nye, born April 14, 1864, who died Oct. 25, 1865.

The mother of these died Aug. 29, 1868, and is buried in the family lot at North Falmouth.

Zebedee Green, father of Mrs. Nye, born in 1800, was a man of influence and. ability and led an active life, being a pattern maker, surveyor and merchant in Pocasset. He married Betsy Swift, born Oct. 10, 1804, daughter of Moses Swift, a farmer of Cataumet, Massachusetts.

On Oct. 21, 1869, Mr. Nye married (second) Ada Baxter, of Hyannis, born Nov. 1, 1848, who died Dec. 6, 1879. His third marriage, on Dec. 20, 1880, was to Mary E. Morgridge, who died June 20, 1906.

Charles Henry Nye of Hyannis, MA

Charles Henry Nye, son of Charles Henry and Lucy S. (Green) Nye, born in Pocasset, Mass., was educated in the private and high schools of Hyannis. He learned the trade of machinist, which he followed for ten years in the Old Colony repair shops. He was then with the E. Howard Watch Company, at Roxbury, Mass., as foreman of the screw and wheel department, remaining in their employ for fourteen years, until he went into, business for himself. Buying a steam carpet cleaning shop in Roxbury he conducted it for ten years, at the end of which time he sold out to return to Hyannis and care for his father. He has ever since resided at Hyannis, where he has various interests, owning considerable real estate in that place and vicinity. Mr. Nye is a man of excellent business ability, and during his long career as a machinist he was known as an expert mechanic. He is a member of Bethesda Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F., of South Boston, and of Fraternal Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Orient Chapter, E. A. M., at Hyannis. In politics he is a Republican, but independent in voting.

On Feb. 27, 1882, Mr. Nye married Rose Berry, of Stockton, Maine, daughter of Capt. James and Elizabeth (Mahoney) Berry. They had no children. Mrs. Nye died Dec. 2, 1906, in Boston, and was buried in the Nye family lot at North Falmouth; she attended the Universalist Church. Mr. Nye is a member of the Congregational Society of Hyannis.